Why I Write And So Should You

66 Comments

Hiya Gorgeous,

For all pen, pencil and keyboard owners.

Writing is a powerful tool at the center of my spiritual practice. Like juicing, eating kale and loving animals, writing makes me a healthier person. Today I want to share what writing does for me, because I think it can do a lot for you too.

But first, know this, you don’t have to be a professional writer to benefit from a regular writing practice. You don’t have to believe you’re creative or talented either. Who cares about skill? I still misuse a semi colon. All you need to do is show up and explore. Trust me, if you do it enough, it will change the way you connect with yourself and others. And if you pay attention to the patterns in your writing, it will help you stay present.

Personally, I write what I need to read.

I write what I need to say. But most of all, I write to get to know myself—to better understand what I want, how I want to feel, and what’s troubling (or exciting) me.

If I’m struggling with something I turn to the page. When I’ve got an observation or a great memory I don’t want to lose, I spend a luxurious amount of time jotting it down and musing on my feelings about it. This definitely helps when I’m mining stories for a project (my brain doesn’t hold as much as it use to—thankfully my journals hold it all). But it also helps me feel more capable of working out my own issues and problems, of connecting with my wise higher self, rather than relying on too much external feedback and conflicting opinions.

I find it useful to ask myself questions and then scribble answers or walk around the room mumbling until I know what I want to say. Yes, I become that crazy lady (with awesome cats or in my case—dogs) who talks to herself and gestures.

Here are a few helpful writing prompts you can take for a spin.

Write them all in the front of a journal and pick one to explore several mornings per week. I promise you’ll uncover some interesting shizzle.

What’s really going on?

What do you need?

How do you want to feel in your body and heart?

What does your body say about this idea or decision?

What are you grateful for?

What’s not working?

Stay in touch & grab a weekly dose of inspiration:

Learn from your writing but don’t censor or judge it.

You may not always like what you see, but guess what? You’re not supposed to present your perfect, best self in your personal pages. We all think that someone is looking over our shoulder and so we’re careful. We don’t write about sex or that weird kink we have about crumbs. We imagine that historians will be looking back on our lives crafting a special for PBS, so we’re “appropriate”.

Snore. Death of creativity. Beige.

If it makes you feel safer, lock up your journals. Buy chains and razor wire. Do whatever it takes to be real. Because your writing (soul) craves truth and authenticity. And sometimes the real you will go through some stinky ass shit. Amen. Life isn’t meant to exist in a narrow color spectrum of perpetual happiness. That’s a movie. It’s not reality. Experience all your vivid, fiery, watery emotions. Give yourself permission to be full bodied. You’re peeling. Revealing. It’s a messy, magnificent process. So don’t be narrow or mean. No judgey editors allowed!

Show up and write. Then do that again and again. Got it? Fabulous!

P.S. Writing can also help you sleep. Dump all those nagging thoughts on the page before night-night. They’ll all be there in the morning. For now, zzz …

66 Responses…

this was the answer to all of my uncertainties about writing and exposing myself! I have MS and I’ve contemplated the idea of starting a blog and sharing my story and experiences. This post makes me feel that much more motivated to do it. Thank you!

I write daily, for the exact same reasons!! And when I go back to it randomly, I am always amazed about the wisdom that I have in me when I write without really thinking. Yesterday I started with just a thought that quickly turned into six some pages later in my journal. It is all the wisdom of the higher self that makes itself known through the writing.

Hi Kris, What a great post! I am a firm believer in writing too and all it does for your heart and soul, not to mention, your brain. In my book, Choosing Happiness After Divorce, there is a writing prompt for each week, because writing let’s us dig deep and figure things out! Writing is also good for people with chronic disease, easing the depression that often accompanies it, and often times helping with the healing process. Thanks for sharing and I hope a lot of readers out there will give it a try! Writing is awesome!

Hey Kris
I love this post. You are so write! Get it? I have journaled for as long as I can remember and love going back every once and a while. I crack up when I read something I was struggling with or some deep thing I wrote and think. “Man, I was the bomb!” I just started a blog a couple of months ago and find it funny how many times I change what I wrote because I worry what someone might think. It only works when I write in my style.
Kellie from Princess and the Yard Ape

I have a trusted, long-distance friend whom I’ve been emailing every day for over ten years. We write about our successes and failures, our worries and fears, our hopes and dreams, our anger and regrets. We encourage and console and scold each other, give and take advice. For that reason, writing is extremely therapeutic for us. It’s our version of journaling. And over the years we have gradually learned that we can open up, sharing our deepest selves, knowing that it is safe to do so. It’s a rare gift. For us, that feedback is part of what makes it so valuable, and is something I don’t get from journaling. I wonder if that is why people blog: they like to put their thoughts down in writing, and then see what kind of response it evokes from others?

Kris, This is so profound in its simplicity and I love that! It had been awhile since I’d written a blog post (or anything else for that matter), whereas I used to write a blog post weekly and in my morning pages daily (for more than 6 months). On Sunday night I was feeling restless and felt the urge to write and I’m so happy to have answered that call. Not only did it help me sort my own thoughts out and share my story with others but it reminded me of a vital piece of myself. Telling stories is part of who I am and writing is a great way for me to do that, without me having to wait to be cast in a show. I will definitely be sharing this article!

I’m not crazy about writing. I’d rather talk…I’ve purchased many journals but have yet to fill one. I’m claiming this time will be different. I have a lot to share so I’ll give it another shot. Thanks for your inspiration

have you read *The Artist’s Way* by Julia Cameron? She’s a huge advocate for writing every day, using a technique she calls Morning Pages. It’s a wonderful, inspiring book — definitely something worth checking out, especially for those with whom this post resonates.

Ann, I loved that book and wrote my pages everyday. Now I seem to just write every morning, but just about what’s going on in my head and life. Would love to figure out how to blog one day. Can’t seem to get started.
@ Kris! Wow! That book was your start. Love you and all your posts. Thank you!!

Hi Kris, thanks a lot for this article. I think it was really a blessing for me to have found you few months ago. I mean, your work, or part of it :-). For this article in particular, it is a fortunate coincidence for me you have issued it today. Last Sunday I was cleaning my space (a sort of “sanctuary” I have in the attic) with all my musical instruments, books, electrical wires and devices, etc. Depending on my mood, that space can be a music studio, an electrical engineering lab, an office or a library. When cleaning and selecting old stuff to be discarded, I found an old note book where I used to write my feelings and thoughts between 1986 and 1995. I actually had wrote the word “Feelings” on the cover. I didn’t look at it for so many years and this Sunday, I cried when reading the notes I recalled my memories, my disappointments, adventures and plans for the future I had that time. It was interesting to understand that, as a teenager, I was already making clear plans for the type of life I wanted for me, the kind of woman I would like to have with me, how I could treat my family and the steps I needed to follow to take care of my friends, my education and professional path. It also revealed how fortunate and happy I am today! I am glad I have found my old notes but regret I have stopped writing in 1995, when I moved to another country to study in a University. Today I have decided to recover that good habit I had in the past and I will try to fill the huge gap in the time line with those memories and personal stories I didn’t write. My family and I thank you very much for the great source of inspiration. We love you Kris!

Just this morning while driving into work I decided to focus on one thing I wanted to be. The affirmation, “I am a fearless writer” popped into my head. Then your blog post landed in my inbox an hour later. Thank you for some specific tools for how to approach the writing process and the encouragement to get started. This is very helpful, Kris. xoxo

WOW WOW WOW!!!
I was just thinking this morning how great I used to feel when I wrote everyday and how ‘maybe’ I should start again. Hello wink from the Universe!! Thank you Kris for being the vehicle to bring the message home to me, now I know it wasn’t just my mind wandering but a message from a Higher Source.
I especially LOVE your suggestion of those questions….brilliant!

Kris, I recently bought 3 journals…yes, 3 because I can’t just pick one. It’s been 1 year since my b/l mastectomy. My 1 year check up has come back really (and I mean really) good so I’ve decided it’s time for me to open up and start writing again. Writing was what I loved to do in high school. I’ve learned this past year did not come with an instruction book and that each of us dealing with cancer takes different roads, drives fast or drives slow, finds windy roads, steep hills, unexpected construction sites and also finds some pretty sweet joyrides along the way. I need to write this down so I can remember how I felt, how my family was doing and where my head and heart were at that moment. Your blog came at the perfect time. I was praying, meditating this morning thinking about this and once again your blog pops up in my email like a little reminder to stop thinking about stuff and just do it. So today I will start. I promise to be honest with myself first. I promise to be proud of myself as I delve into this and I promise to have fun, laugh, cry, and look for the good each day I pick up my pen, pencil or crayon. Thank you for being here for all of us each day. I hope you keep these notes from all of us and continue to read them on your good and bad days. Be reminded daily that you really DO help so many of us with your humor, kindness and passion for life. Thanks from your friend in Colorado xoxo

Absolutely Kris, thank you for this post!!
Writing is an essential practice for keeping the internal environment healthy and clear. (I’d say pen or pencil and paper are better for this than keyboard .)
Have you come across proprioceptive writing?
If not, I think you’ll love it. Here’s a linkhttp://radix00.com/PWriting_Main/landing/the-practice-of-pw/
(I’m not in anyway affiliated, just an enthusiastic user of this method)
xx
Veronika

I never thought I’d be the kind of person that would NEED to write. I mean, who has time for THAT? It started with recipes, now I write every day, whether it’s pen to paper in one of my journals scattered about, a blog post for something I need to learn, somewhere to share gratitude, or piss and moan, or writing stuff for others to share.

I always feel better. If I go too long without letting some words out I feel constipated 🙂

I think I really needed this post! Started writing when I was 13, but recently I didn’t feel like doing it anymore.. But now all my experiences and thoughts seem to just get stuck in my head. I’m having a lot of problems sleeping and writing might just be the solution to that. Seems to be cathartic anyway, so why not give it a go 🙂 Thanks, great timing 😀

I just read your article on writing it gave me a little hope I have struggled with depression most of my life and writing was a special place for me but I abandoned it but now I’m reconsidering it as it can help me with my depression . Kris you are an inspiration to me I do believe what you have to say because you’ve been in very dark places I think if you can make it thru what you been thru I can make it thru my dark places. You are such blessing to all of us, thank you!

I JUST set up a blog for the first time (minutes ago.) I feel so excited and the first article I saw in my newly set-up feed was this. Thank you for inspiring me and making me think “this is right.” Xxx

Hey Kris! What an amazing post. I’ve been writing for over fifteen years. It’s a nostalgic feeling reading through through my thought processes and my feelings from my late 20’s to now my early 40’s. Lots of things have changed in my life but who I am hasn’t. I can see that in my writing. I’m forever thankful that I started doing this all those years ago.

A great scab was just ripped off a 14-yr-old wound–and I am wracked with sobs. I have been trying to get back to the lifeline of journaling for the past month that I used to rely faithfully on, but have just been sputtering. Your post with your lovely understanding and inspiring energy just broke through my cover.

When my ex-husband and I separated in 2001, he stole all of my journals (I had kept them since I was 12 thinking I would want to remember what it was like when I had kids of my own, and later, to cope with incest and abuse recovery as guided by my counselor and recovery programs and workbooks.) I used them to vent frustrations with motherhood and marriage, as well as to tap into the wisdom of my dreams, my inner guidance, and spiritual explorations.

Our first day in court I discovered he had photocopied about 1500 pages worth, analyzed them with his mother’s help, and highlighted and categorized them into sections, and had his lawyer submit them to court without my knowledge. He tried to use my work to take away my children, humiliate me, and break my spirit, all so outside of court he could try to coerce me into staying in the marriage because “he really loved me.”

I thought I had healed from this violation that cut so deeply many years ago, but apparently more needed to be released. I am grateful it has now been revealed so I can again trust this beloved process of self-knowing.

Jacqueline, cry as much as you need to (rage too) no one should ever experience what you went through. I’m so glad this helped you and I hope you can feel safe enough to write again, remember what I said, it’s OK to lock them up and protect them. Do whatever you need to do to get your writing going again. You are loved–by me. xo kc

Jacqueline, I am so terribly sad to read what happened to you. I write often, and I know it is soooo personal and private. I hope you can learn to trust again. In the meantime, Julia Cameron’s book ‘Artist’s Way’ suggests shredding the pages after writing each morning. It’s kind of freeing, actually, to not need them anymore —like you’ve released something for good. Just a thought… xo

You are magnificent Kris! Just this morning I realized I needed to journal,… its been a while. I have been in a slump but didn’t want to face it. So I wrote about the paradox of gratitude. Being so focussed on being grateful for the wonderful life I have and nature and security blah, blah……that I was in denial about some of my poopy-bum-shitty-ass-smelly feelings of loneliness, overwhelm, confusion, stuckness and lethargy. So I wrote and wrote, and it felt good. LaterI see this lovely, blog of yours re-affirming that it is ok not to always be Bonnie Sunshine farting sparkles and rainbows. I am grateful for You, beautiful You Kris!!!!

I love the brash authenticity here Kris. “Life isn’t meant to exist in a narrow color spectrum of perpetual happiness. That’s a movie. It’s not reality.” It’s so true. And it seems harder to remember that we all have deep struggles as we become more digital. Writing is such a difficult thing for me, but I know it’s valuable so I’ve been making it happen recently. I have always written songs and poetry to get me through the difficult times, and now I’m working on writing when I’m happy as well! Thanks for using your writings to inspire!

I have started to journal when a childhood memory pops up, from eating/smelling certain food, a word, phrase; what joy of the moment I have seen, such as stars twinkling in the night sky and how I feel living/reliving those. It’s awe-some. 🙂

Love your writing prompts Kris. They are like taking the highway to your inner truths. A great starting point on a journey of yourself. Writing always gives me the clarity I need to make wise choices and be in touch with my authentic self. Thanks for your weekly words of wisdom. Reading your blog always leaves me feeling happy and hopeful.

I lost my mother this year, and I was encouraged to journal by a friend. I haven’t started, but as usual, Kris is there to nudge us along, and your timing is alway spot on, how do you do that??? I have a question. Do you have to physically write down the words, is the actual act of writing part of the experience, or can you type or use Siri to dictate as well? I spent the morning after my mom died, lingering at the Hospice facility, which I found very soothing, and dictated my thoughts and feelings into my iphone about how I felt during the last few days I spent with her there. I haven’t even read the notes yet, I’m not ready. But I’ll take time this week to print them out and start the healing process and make them the first page of my journal. Thanks Kris, for the push, you’re amazing!

Thank you so much for this *hugs* I do blog but the thing is, in trying to write the ‘perfect’ or ‘right’ post, sometimes, nothing comes out at all. This leaves me frustrated and tense. Your tips are just so perfect! After reading this, I’m absolutely going to give myself permission to just write to myself, no filters! Thank you! x

tHANKS KRIS….I NEED TO GET BACK TO WRITING. I SAID SOMETHING TO A DEAR FRIEND AND SHE WON’T ACCEPT APOLOGY…JEREMY HAD TOLD ME TO WRITE MY THOUGHTS…THANKS FOR REMINDING ME THAT I NEED TO DO IT. TO LESSEN THE HURT OF HER NO LONGER CARING….ALSO NEED TO WRITE ON THE ISSUES I COPE WITH EACH DAY AND HOPEFULLY CAN ACCEPT THEM BETTER THEN I DO. ALSO, AM ALONE ALOT SO WRITING WILL BE LIKE TALKING.
HAVE A GREAT DAY SOUCI

Thanks Kris, you are soooo right! I weirdly started journal writing a few weeks before I was diagnosed with cancer. I just felt the need to write. I’ve now kept a daily journal which made my blog come alive with ease once I was well enough to do it.

You are an inspiration – wish you were closer would love to share a sexy green juice with you!
Love your work xx

Thank you so much for this Kris… for the reminder about how writing has been a spiritual practice for me and how ‘practice’ (regular-ness, consistency, commitment) is the operative word!
I’ve written in personal journals all of my adult life and get so much out of it. But lately have let that practice become more sporadic.
I also started blogging a while back – and found myself inconsistent and sporadic there too. I loved what you said about finding stories for projects in the writing that you’ve already captured.
And I love this inspiration you’ve sparked in me to come back to a practice of nourishing my relationship with myself regularly. Great prompts!

Writing my “morning pages” has saved my life, completely transformed me and given me access to my inner wisdom. So cool. It is beautiful how such simple things have universal power for us humans. Thanks Kris.

I have long been inspired by your journey, your honesty, your recovery, and your ministry (my words, but I feel that about you). So many of your words have touched me, but this particular blog was extra special. That’s the way it is with words, and life ~ sometimes they merge at just the right moment, and people/feelings/life changes as a result.
I needed this reminder very much.
Thank you for this, and all the rest, which is more than words and feelings could ever convey.
Blessings to you, and joy!

I just want to say that I think you are amazing! I just found your site about a week ago and I think that all the information and more importantly inspiration that you give others is truly awesome and beautiful! Thank you!

What an inspiring post! Since starting my blog in January and finally being honest about my breast cancer journey I feel like a different person. Not only am I blogging to inspire others but really I am doing it to inspire myself. XO